Schizoid Personality Disorder - Research Paper Example

? SCHIZOID PERSONALITY DISORDER ID Number: of of School Estimated Word Count: 1,085 Date of Submission: November 15, 2011 SCHIZOID PERSONALITY DISORDER Introduction The schizoid personality is considered as one of the rarest types of personality disorders. It is also more common among the men than in women and those afflicted with this disorder can have little or no interest at all in developing normal relationships with other people. Unlike those diagnosed with the closest and almost similar disorders of schizotypal personal disorder and also the avoidant personality disorder, persons diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder do not have the characteristic cognitive perceptual distortions (schizotypal) nor the intense unexpressed desire to have relationships but avoid them due to exaggerated fears of rejection (avoidant type). A person diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder, however, shares the same features of the two other disorders in terms of social isolation and restricted or repressed emotional expression. The schizoid personality disorder differs from another almost similar disorder which is paranoid personality disorder in that it lacks the elements of mistrust and suspiciousness (Hales, Yudofsky and Gabbard, 2010, p. 303). In other words, it is very hard to spot except by someone who had been trained to diagnose it precisely and has therefore been rarely studied. Its etiology has been something of a mystery and several theories had been advanced to try to explain it. The prevailing view is that constitutional factors contribute to its progression, beginning with pattern of shyness during early childhood. Others suggest either environmental factors, such as exposure to famine by the mother during pregnancy and some point to genetics as there is a strong positive correlation between parents who have it and their children; its hereditary factor is about 0.28. Discussion Some psychologists question the criteria used in schizoid personality disorder diagnosis as it suggests some cultural and social biases. This is because some people are different does not mean they are pathological or dysfunctional. The basis for this contrary claim is that people tend to discriminate those belonging in the minority and equate that with an illness, almost similar to the earlier case of homosexuality which had been removed from the list of mental disorders with the pioneering research done by Dr. Evelyn Hooker that homosexuals are normal people. Be that as it may, people diagnosed with the schizoid personality disorder share similar characteristics of those diagnosed with schizophrenia such as emotional detachment (coldness) and a blunted or a flattened affect. There is also a higher than normal prevalence of this disorder in families found to be schizophrenic. People with schizoid personality disorder (SPD) can be described as lacking interest in social relationships, often sexually apathetic and prefers solitary lifestyles devoted to individual activities like solving puzzles, playing computer games or reading plenty of books. People with SPD develop their own world of fantasy, sometimes quite elaborate. There are interesting similarities of SPD to either autism or the Asperger Syndrome in term of impaired social functioning, stereotyped behavioral patterns and obsessive narrow interests, only that SPD has the milder forms of the symptoms as compared to either autism or Asperger's disorder. While it is entirely possible this mental disorder has some biological basis such as brain malfunction or physiological dysfunction, a general view is that childhood shyness has been found to be a good precursor to SPD in adulthood. Child abuse and neglect are also suspected causes but the genetic and neurobiological causes of SPD still has to be studied (Barlow and Durand, 2011, p. 443). Diagnostic Criteria for SPD (DSM-IV) The current DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of SPD describes it as a pervasive pattern of behavior that is detached from any meaningful social relationships; if ever, the people interact with others only by necessity. The lack of emotional expression is also evident by a flat affect. It begins around early adulthood (at about age eighteen) although the symptoms can be traced to an early childhood personality of being persistently shy in interpersonal setting. It is not attributable to any direct physiological medical condition although physiological malfunction is suspected. A diagnosis of SPD must include four of these seven accepted criteria, viz: 1. Does not desire intimate relationships, even within family members. 2. Preference is for solitary activities as was mentioned earlier (games, puzzles). 3. Lacks close friends due to aversion of any meaningful relationships. 4. Does not derive any pleasure in outside activities but prefers introspection. 5. Indifferent to praise or criticism of other people (disregards their opinions). 6. Exhibits emotional detachment (coldness) and a flat affect. 7. Little interest in sexual experience with another person. The World Health Organization (WHO) in its ICD-10 lists the same characteristics with the addition of two more criteria, namely: indifference to social norms or conventions (similar to autism) and preoccupation with fantasy. Four out of the nine criteria must also be present. Famous TV or Movie Personality with SPD I would choose Jack Nicholson's character in the movie, “The Shining” in which he did not form any strong adult interpersonal relationships. In fact, he was largely anti-social in that he had also become quite violent and murderous. Nicholson's character named as Mr. Jack Torrance eventually goes insane out of the social isolation imposed by staying in an old hotel in winter. He imagines things as fantasy and claims to have seen the ghosts of former guests in the hotel. It is also partly attributable (insanity of Jack Torrance) to the grim visions of his son Danny, who has claimed he had seen forebodings from both the past and the future (like in the Sixth Sense film). Jack Torrance had shown the classic signs of SPD, such as the lack of sexual interest in his wife; in fact, he had become a misogynist (woman-hater) as evidenced by this quote: “Women, can't live with them, can't kill them.” Conclusion People with SPD can be described as “loners” who prefer to go it alone and does not in any way seem to miss interpersonal relationships at all. Others who come into contact with them tend to describe those with SPD as remarkably “aloof” which can be misconstrued as arrogance. The sentiment of other psychologists and psychiatrists is that SPD is a type of personality and is not to be described as a mental disorder, any more than homosexuality is also mental ailment as these people are found to be generally normal in many respects. Nevertheless, people with SPD are thought to constitute only 1% or even less of the general population. If ever, their treatment is to reintroduce them to joys of socialization such as learning emotions of others by empathy. Reference List Barlow, D. H. & Durand, V. M. (2011). Abnormal psychology: an integrative approach. Florence, KY, USA: Cengage Learning. Hales, R. E., Yudofsky, S. C. & Gabbard, G. O. (2010). Essentials of psychiatry. 3rd ed. Arlington, VA, USA: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. Read More